DSLR VIEWFINDERS

[elderly]

I've started looking for a digital replacement
for my Nikon F100. Say up tp £1K.

On paper all have pros and cons:
I like the Konica Minolta ant-shake system,
I like the Olympus ultrasonic dusting system,
I like Nikon .... just because.

In the flesh I've only seen the Nikon D70s
but it has such a horrid little viewfinder.

Does anybody know of a reasonably priced DSLR
with a NICE finder? IMO it's absolutely vital.

[Mr Noble]

IMO there is no beating the D70s.

There are a host of different viewfinders for it.

Check the Nikon website. They are all listed in my manual.

You can even get waist level finders and diopter ones and one thats about 2" long!!

Get a D70, you can't go wrong.

GN

[Bee_Jay]

elderly said:

In the flesh I've only seen the Nikon D70s but it has such a horrid little viewfinder.

What do you define as "horrid"?

[_dobbo_]

elderly said:

I've started looking for a digital replacement for my Nikon F100. Say up tp £1K. On paper all have pros and cons: I like the Konica Minolta ant-shake system, I like the Olympus ultrasonic dusting system, I like Nikon .... just because. In the flesh I've only seen the Nikon D70s but it has such a horrid little viewfinder. Does anybody know of a reasonably priced DSLR with a NICE finder? IMO it's absolutely vital.

Horrible because it's too small? If so, you aren't going to get a Nikon for under £1k that is any different. Which leaves you with some sort of add-on adapter as above.

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

And it's the same in the Canon world. I thought my 10D had a good viewfinder until I got my 1DmkII. Now the 10D view is like looking thought a pin hole.

[Prof Higgins]

Depends if you would consider a used body or not. You can pick up both a D1X or D2H for around £1000 mark and both would offer the viewfinder you are looking for. In fact just been through this myself and plumped for the D2h, I got it off of ebay for exactly £1000, still had some manufacturer warranty left and made sure I collected in person and gave it a quick check over. Getting a professional body that way with superb build that will last for ages.

[simpo two]

Mr Noble said:

There are a host of different viewfinders for it. Check the Nikon website. They are all listed in my manual. You can even get waist level finders and diopter ones and one thats about 2" long!!

If you mean things that strap on the outside, they're not actually viewfinders - but there might be one that magnifies the view evenly. If so let me know!

The small viewfinder was the first thing that struck me too, but I'm used to it now. I think it's a cost-saving thing: the D70 uses a pentamirror instead of a pentaprism which might be part of the answer. Another factor might be that the guts are DX size, not 35mm size.

[elderly]

Bee_Jay said:

elderly said: In the flesh I've only seen the Nikon D70s but it has such a horrid little viewfinder. What do you define as "horrid"?

Compared to my F100, it's a little like looking through the wrong end
of a telescope, the image is so small compared to
the F100.

Thanks for all your comments;
once again it apears that you
'get nothing for nothing'
and if I want a bigger screen to compose my
photographs on
I will have to spend more ....
not something that I really wan't to do at this
stage of digital camera improvement.

[simpo two]

I think you'll get used to it. There were so many other things to learn and worry about. Perhaps I subconsciously push my eye a ittle further forwards to compensate.

IMO one of the main advantages of a large bright screen is to focus accurately, but you'll probably be using AF 99% of the time.